Muslims across country celebrate Eid-ul-Adha
Last Friday, Muslim faithful in all the regions of the country celebrated their annual feast of sacrifice, Eid-ul-Adha, with prayers, the slaughtering of cattle and sheep, and merry-making.
From the Tema Metropolis, Benjamin Xornam Glover writes that the Muslim community converged at the Tema Stadium in Community One to offer special prayers to Allah.
They were led by the Deputy Tema Metropolitan Chief Imam, Alhaji Adam Fuseini, who asked them to use the occasion to reflect on their social life and promote unity in their communities.
Present at the prayers were the Member of Parliament for Tema East, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, and the Tema Metropolitan Coordinating Director, John Nana Owu, who represented the MCE, Ebi Bright.
Reflecting on the story of Prophet Abraham and his son, Ishmael, Alhaji Fuseini highlighted the need for submission to Allah's will. He also emphasised the importance of sacrifice, submission and obedience by all.
Alhaji Fuseini led the worshippers to pray for Ghana and the President, John Dramani Mahama, the Members of Parliament and the MCE for Tema East, Ebi Bright.
The MP for Tema East, Issac Ashai Odamtten, said the President and the NDC government were committed to maintaining peace and supporting the Muslim community.
He highlighted the government’s support for the Hajj pilgrimage and promised to improve it further as well as efforts to develop Makaranta schools and infrastructure in the Tema Metropolis, as some of the interventions put in place to support the Muslim community.
Mr Odamtten said the government had earmarked various initiatives for youth development, including job opportunities, enterprise support and apprenticeships all aimed at boosting the economy.
Submission
The Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Mr Owu, stressed the importance of submitting to Allah's will and following His instructions and urged Muslims and Ghanaians to reflect on that as they celebrated the Eid-ul-Adha.
Alhaji Adam Fuseini (left), Deputy Tema Metropolitan Chief Imam, leading the Muslim worshipers in prayers during the Eid festival
He said the TMA was committed to delivering on the "resetting agenda" promised by President Mahama to bring relief to Ghanaians, adding that as part of the agenda work was ongoing on improving infrastructure, such as the road from Mankoadze Roundabout to the Tema Port.
He called on the Muslim community to continue to pray for peace and progress in the country.
Ho
In the Volta Regional capital, Ho, members of the Muslim community slaughtered a ram in the open to symbolise Ibrahim’s uncompromising respect for Allah and readiness to sacrifice his only son, Ishmael, to Him, to mark Eid-ul-Adha, Alberto Mario Noretti reports.
This was preceded by prayers for peace and unity to prevail in the country and wisdom for those in authority.
The officiating Imam, Ali Abdulai, urged the rich to break their bread with the poor and those in need for the society to move ahead in harmony.
An Assistant Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Volta Region, ACP Wisdom Akorli, commended the Muslim community for upholding the peace in recent times, saying the growing evidence of harmony at the zangos was gratifying and must be maintained at all times.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Stephen Adom, said Eid-ul-Adha was a day of joy, goodwill and harmony, and that made the celebration a national event and not just an occasion for Muslims.
“Let us show concern for one another’s welfare and move ahead in progress and peace,” he told the celebrants.
Koforidua
From Koforidua in the Eastern Region Haruna Yussif Wunpini, writes that hundreds of Muslims trooped to the Central Mosque to offer this year’s Eid-ul-Adha prayers.
Dr Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti Regional Minister, addressing the Eid-ul-Adha event in Kumasi
Smartly dressed in various apparels, as is mostly won by members of the Muslim faith, they prayed for the peace, unity and progress of the country.They slaughtered animals such as cow, sheep and goats to mark the day which is in honour of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, Ismail (Ishmael), as an act of obedience to Allah's (God's) command.
The Eastern Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Yussif Amudani Sulemana, who led the prayers urged all religious groups to cherish the existing peace and harmony the country was enjoying and to nurture it for more years ahead.
He advised Ghanaians to desist from derogatory statements in the quest to express their opinions on national issues.
Alhaji Sulemana entreated Muslims to share their sacrificial meat with family, friends, poor, vulnerable and less privileged persons, among others, to earn more blessings from Allah.
The Regional Chief Imam prayed for President Mahama, his ministers of state, all his appointees, including all municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs), to be granted wisdom to administer the affairs of the country.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, for her part called on Ghanaians, especially Muslims to support the government to improve the socio-economic development of the people in the region and the country as a whole.
She advised Muslims to resist any attempt by any group to use them as tools to perpetuate violence and foment trouble since Islam stood for peace and not war.
Mrs Awatey also urged Muslims to live as a united front to support the government in delivering its promises to the people.
Earlier, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Secretary of the New Juaben South Constituency, Sellassie Amuzu, presented some food items and assorted drinks to Muslims at Osabane - Mile 50 to celebrate the Eid-ul-Adh.
Kumasi
Gilbert Mawuli Agbey reports from Kumasi that the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, accompanied by some members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), joined Muslims for the Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Kumasi Central Mosque.
Also in attendance were the Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Zakaria, and the Sumankwahene, Baffour Asabre Ababio Kogyawoasu III, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Amoakohene commended the Muslim community for continuously praying for peace and unity in the region and the nation, and added that such prayers were important.
He indicated that the government had Muslims at heart and would continue to roll out interventions such as the reduction in this year’s Hajj fares to bring relief to them, saying “I can assure you that more measures would be put in place to enable more pilgrims to embark upon the pilgrimage next year.”
Job creation
Touching on job creation, he said the government had rolled out interventions, including the National Apprenticeship Programme, to enable the youth to learn various trades to improve their lives.
To this end, he encouraged the youth to take advantage of such initiatives to acquire entrepreneurial skills to set up their own businesses to contribute to the growth of the private sector.
Similarly, he said through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), 5,000 youth would be recruited as assistants to support the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS)
Sunyani
From Sunyani, Biiya Mukusah Ali reports that the Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani East, Seid Mubarak, joined hundreds of Muslims in the municipality to observe the Eid-ul-Adha prayers at the Jubilee Park.
There was unusual traffic on the major streets of Sunyani, particularly roads leading to the venue, as Muslims, including women and children, mostly dressed in long white attire, popularly known as "jarabia", took over the streets.
The Bono Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Baba Seidu, who led the prayers, slaughtered a ram to pave the way for the Muslims to do so in their homes after the prayers.
The Regional Minister, Mr Akwaboa, advised the youth to stay away from illegal mining, popularly known as "galamsey", for which 31 suspected illegal miners made up of 14 Chinese nationals and 17 Ghanaians had been arrested.
On behalf of the government, he donated 100 bags of rice and two cattle to support the Eid-ul-Adha celebration.
Wa
From Wa in the Upper West Region, Sahada Dramani reports that the Muslim community in the municipality converged at the Wa Jubilee Park for the Eid prayers.
While the men were modestly dressed in their long boubou or ‘jalabia’ with some in their smock, the ladies were clad in colourful dresses with accompanying sunglasses and head gears.
In a message read on his behalf by the Wa Municipal Chief Executive officer, Alhaji Nuru Issah Dawana, the Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, thanked the Muslim community for their support, prayers and guidance in the upbringing of their kids.
He, however, observed that substance abuse among the youth was rising and called on parents to step up their supervisory roles.
"The Quran and Hadith emphasise the importance of preserving our physical and mental well-being," he stated.
He thus urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to utilise every available platform to educate and sensitise the youth on the dangers of substance abuse.
Sekondi
From Sekondi, George Folley reports that the Methodist Astro Turf was a sea of white as Tijaniyya worshippers, some riding horses, gathered for the Eid celebration in their beautiful apparels.
Just like the Tijaniyyas, the Alsunna Waljamaa, also congregated in Takoradi with the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, in attendance.
Mr Nelson gave the assurance that the government would continue to work harder to make life comfortable for Ghanaians.
He urged them to continue to live in harmony with one another to ensure a better Ghana.
The Tijanniya leader, Sheikh Habib Yusif Wangaroo, in a brief interview with the Daily Graphic, commended the government on its achievements since assuming office in January.
